How to Stage a Short Sale Home for Pennies
Sellers of short sale homes generally will receive higher offers if they stage those short sales before putting them on the market. But if a homeowner is facing financial hardship, it could be next to impossible to pour money into a home when all the owner wants is out.
This blog shares with you how a seller can stage a short sale home without spending a fortune.
Curb appeal isn't just a fancy phrase created to boost landscapers' incomes. It's a crucial first impression. Be sure trash cans, toys and bikes are put away, house numbers are attractive and easy to see, the front door is inviting (because you've repainted it and perhaps updated the hardware), and that you have attractive potted plants by the door. Yellow sells, so fill the pots with beautiful yellow flowering plants. I also recommend purchasing a new coir door mat.
De-cluttering: Every item needs a place where it "lives." Where do your keys live? They live on the entryway console by the front door, not on the kitchen counter. Shoes live in closets. Paperwork lives in desks. There are enough things that you can't control, but you can bring some order into your home, and that doesn't cost a dime.
Get the kids on board: After you tell the children you are moving you need to let them know their rooms are going to need to be cleaned and half their stuff packed up temporarily so people can look at the house. One way to get children on board is to offer them a reward to be received when the house sells and the family moves into the new home. Next, have them help you pack their toys in a big box that is labeled, "To Be Opened FIRST In The New House!"
Clean like there is no tomorrow: It goes without saying that the house should be squeaky clean and odor-free. If there is carpeting in the house, rent a steam cleaner to remove the stains (every carpet has them). You don't need to advertise that pets live in the house. Pick up pet toys, remove all pet hair, and put away food and water bowls during Open House. Vacuum every day.
Staging tips: Go ahead and select new bedding as a treat for the kids and parents, and make all the beds every day. Replace tired towels in the bathrooms with fluffy white towels. Add decorative pillows to sofas and chairs. Make sure the dining room table is centered under the light fixture. Make sure all lamp shades and picture frames hang level. All toilet lids should be in the down position. Straighten all furniture, plump all cushions, empty all trash cans.
Plan for the Home Inspection: The last thing you want to do is give Buyers a "To Do List" before they move in. Do everything you can to get the house in good condition before you attempt to sell it. On average, there are 35 to 55 items per home that home inspectors feel need repaired. The bulk of these are simple corrections that can and should be addressed before a buyer sees the house. For instance, a home inspector will check caulking around sinks, bathtubs and showers. If it doesn't look brand new, replace it. These simple repairs run from $300 to $500 to correct. However, the buyers often view needed repairs as being a $2,000 headache.
Preparing a house for sale is a journey. I ask my clients to picture themselves handing over their keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners. Don't look backwards--look toward the future. It is always my privilege to help people move on with their lives.
Ann Alderson is a professional home stager and home selling strategist in the Tampa Bay area.
Follow her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/stagingsouthtampa.
This blog shares with you how a seller can stage a short sale home without spending a fortune.
Curb appeal isn't just a fancy phrase created to boost landscapers' incomes. It's a crucial first impression. Be sure trash cans, toys and bikes are put away, house numbers are attractive and easy to see, the front door is inviting (because you've repainted it and perhaps updated the hardware), and that you have attractive potted plants by the door. Yellow sells, so fill the pots with beautiful yellow flowering plants. I also recommend purchasing a new coir door mat.
De-cluttering: Every item needs a place where it "lives." Where do your keys live? They live on the entryway console by the front door, not on the kitchen counter. Shoes live in closets. Paperwork lives in desks. There are enough things that you can't control, but you can bring some order into your home, and that doesn't cost a dime.
Get the kids on board: After you tell the children you are moving you need to let them know their rooms are going to need to be cleaned and half their stuff packed up temporarily so people can look at the house. One way to get children on board is to offer them a reward to be received when the house sells and the family moves into the new home. Next, have them help you pack their toys in a big box that is labeled, "To Be Opened FIRST In The New House!"
Clean like there is no tomorrow: It goes without saying that the house should be squeaky clean and odor-free. If there is carpeting in the house, rent a steam cleaner to remove the stains (every carpet has them). You don't need to advertise that pets live in the house. Pick up pet toys, remove all pet hair, and put away food and water bowls during Open House. Vacuum every day.
Staging tips: Go ahead and select new bedding as a treat for the kids and parents, and make all the beds every day. Replace tired towels in the bathrooms with fluffy white towels. Add decorative pillows to sofas and chairs. Make sure the dining room table is centered under the light fixture. Make sure all lamp shades and picture frames hang level. All toilet lids should be in the down position. Straighten all furniture, plump all cushions, empty all trash cans.
Plan for the Home Inspection: The last thing you want to do is give Buyers a "To Do List" before they move in. Do everything you can to get the house in good condition before you attempt to sell it. On average, there are 35 to 55 items per home that home inspectors feel need repaired. The bulk of these are simple corrections that can and should be addressed before a buyer sees the house. For instance, a home inspector will check caulking around sinks, bathtubs and showers. If it doesn't look brand new, replace it. These simple repairs run from $300 to $500 to correct. However, the buyers often view needed repairs as being a $2,000 headache.
Preparing a house for sale is a journey. I ask my clients to picture themselves handing over their keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners. Don't look backwards--look toward the future. It is always my privilege to help people move on with their lives.
Ann Alderson is a professional home stager and home selling strategist in the Tampa Bay area.
Follow her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/stagingsouthtampa.
Posted by Ann Alderson's Staging Blog at 5/16/2011 2:25 PM 
Categories: Staging a Short Sale
Tags: home for sale short sell sell house fast staging Tampa real estate condo for sale curb appeal declutter decorating to sell Ann Alderson
Categories: Staging a Short Sale
Tags: home for sale short sell sell house fast staging Tampa real estate condo for sale curb appeal declutter decorating to sell Ann Alderson
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